Sentence processing with empty categories

Abstract In a recent article, Pickcring and Barry (1991) argue against the existence of empty categories (ECs) in human sentence processing. The purpose of this paper is to point out that Pickering and Barry's conclusion is too strong. Rather than arguing against the existence of empty categories, Pickering and Barry's data suggest only that if ECs are used by the sentence processor to link thematic roles to wh-phrases, then, given a wh-phrase, the sentence processor must posit an EC as soon as an appropriate position is licensed by the grammar. Thus empty categories may still serve a linking role between thematic role assigners and wh-phrases. This paper gives one possible parsing algorithm which accounts for Pickering and Barry's data within a framework that includes ECs.

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